Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
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Plantation home at Magnolia Plantation
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Area | 390 acres (160 ha) |
| Built | 1850 |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001198 |
| Added to NRHP | December 11, 1972 |
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a historic place in Charleston County, South Carolina. It covers about 464 acres (187.77 hectares) and is located on the Ashley River. This site includes a historic house and beautiful gardens. It is one of the oldest large farms, called plantations, in the Southern United States. Because of its history, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Magnolia Plantation is close to Charleston and is open every day for visitors. There is an admission fee to enter.
The plantation started in 1676. That's when Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and a small garden here. The Drayton family has owned and managed the plantation for 15 generations! Some of the people who were forced to work here were brought by the Draytons from Barbados in the 1670s. Nearby, the historic Drayton Hall was built in 1738 by John Drayton, another member of the family.
Magnolia was first a rice plantation. Workers built many dams and dikes along the river. These were used to flood the fields for growing rice. Many of the enslaved people who built these works came from parts of Africa where rice was grown. Over time, these workers created a unique language called Gullah. They also developed a rich culture. This culture is still strong today in the Lowcountry and Sea Islands of the Carolinas and Georgia.
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History of Magnolia Plantation
Magnolia became famous for its amazing gardens after the 1840s. This was when Reverend John Grimke-Drayton inherited the property. He was the grandson of Thomas Drayton. John took the Drayton last name as part of his inheritance. His aunts, Sarah and Angelina Emily Grimké, were famous for working to end slavery.
Grimke-Drayton, who was a minister, started to redesign the gardens. He wanted them to look like English gardens. People say he did this to encourage his new wife to move south from Philadelphia. He was one of the first people to plant Camellia japonica outdoors in the 1820s. He is also believed to have brought the first azaleas to America. Under his care, the gardens became well-known before the American Civil War.
Famous photographer Mathew Brady took pictures of the gardens. He later became known for his photos of the Civil War. Another important visitor was John James Audubon. The Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia is named after him.
The main house at the plantation was burned during the Civil War. It was likely burned by Union soldiers. After the war, John Drayton sold most of the land to get money. He kept only 390 acres. Today, 25 acres are used for the gardens. Another 16 acres are for the wide lawn around the beautiful live oak trees. About 150 acres are a marsh and a place for water birds. Since 1941, about 199 acres have been used as a plant nursery. This nursery helps earn money to keep the gardens running.
In the 1900s, many famous people visited Magnolia Plantation. These included George Gershwin, Henry Ford, Eleanor Roosevelt, Orson Welles, and Reba McEntire. In the early 1900s, the painter William Posey Silva painted the garden many times. Some of his paintings are still shown in the main house.
What You Can See at Magnolia Plantation Today
Magnolia Plantation is now a house museum and a popular place for tourists. The main plantation house was rebuilt and restored after the Civil War. The oldest part of the house was actually built before the Revolutionary War near Summerville. This section was moved to Magnolia after the Civil War. The wide porch and large columns were added more recently.
Enslaved Africans and African Americans worked in large groups on plantations like Magnolia. They often lived together with little interference from white owners. They created a special language called Gullah. This language mixed West African languages with some English words. They also developed a unique culture. This culture is known for its food, like rice and seafood, and crafts, such as baskets made from sea grass.
There are five cabins on the property. Four of them were built during the time of slavery. One was built around 1900. After the Civil War, freed people lived in these cabins. To show how enslaved and free Black workers lived, these cabins have been restored to look like different time periods. One shows life in 1850. Others show life in the decades after the Civil War and into the 1900s. The plantation offers a program called From Slavery to Freedom. This program teaches visitors about African-American history at the plantation. Archeologists are still learning more about the lives of both enslaved and free Black workers. Many of them were skilled gardeners and craftspeople.
Other parts of the plantation focus on nature. You can take a nature train ride or a marsh boat tour. There is also a wildlife area. A petting zoo and the gardens show a special kind of cultivated nature. Many of today's attractions were built starting in 1975 when the gardens were being renewed.
Main Garden Features
The gardens have many azalea plants, plus other special areas:
- Barbados Tropical Garden - An indoor garden with tropical plants.
- Biblical Garden - This garden has plants mentioned in the Bible. It has areas for the Old Testament and New Testament.
- Camellia Collection - The first Camellia japonica plants were put here in the 1820s. Today, there are almost 900 different types of camellias. Nearly 150 of these were grown in the gardens' own nursery.
- Cattail Wildlife Refuge - This area is about 500 acres (2 square kilometers). It has a tower where you can watch birds.
- Cypress Lake - You can see Bald cypress trees here. Some are up to 100 years old. They grow along the riverbanks and in wet areas.
- Flowerdale (50 acres) - This is one of the oldest parts of the garden, started in 1680. It has formal plantings of flowers that bloom every year. These are set in triangular beds surrounded by boxwood hedges. Two very large camellias here date back to the 1840s.
- Long Bridge - This bridge was built in the 1840s. It is one of seven bridges on the grounds.
- Maze - This maze is a copy of the famous Hampton Court maze in England. It is planted with about 500 Camellia sasanqua plants mixed with Burford holly. The pathways are almost 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) long.
- Nature Center and Zoo - Here you can see farm animals that were common on Southern plantations. There are also injured or orphaned native animals. You might see exotic birds like Malayan jungle fowl, guinea hens, and peacocks.
- Swamp Garden - This area highlights plants that grow naturally in the swamp. It shows the rich ecosystem of the area.
See also
In Spanish: Jardines y Plantación Magnolia para niños
